Romelu Lukaku is an Old Trafford natural, who will score a mountain of goals for Manchester United , believes Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Reds legend Van Nistelrooy is still ­revered by United fans for his ­phenomenal goalscoring feats after being signed in 2001 by Sir Alex Ferguson.

A staggering 150 goals in 219 games confirmed his standing as one of the club’s top marksmen. And now, Van Nistelrooy says successor Lukaku can also hit the ­goal-scoring heights, after brushing off the ­pressures that inevitably come as a new ­striker at United.

That £75million looks money well spent with Lukaku scoring at a goal per game (Image: AFP)

Six goals in his first six games following a £75million summer move from Everton says it all.

And before the ­Belgium star, 24, faces his former club at Old ­Trafford on Sunday afternoon, Van ­Nistelrooy said: “Lukaku has made a good start at dealing with the pressure as a striker at United.

“There is always a price ticket around your neck, ­especially in the early matches. If you don’t score, people say, ‘Hey, he’s not scoring’. But Romelu is scoring goals and I’m certain that will continue.

“Like me, I think he is a pure No.9, playing through the ­middle. You wouldn’t put me on the wing. The same with him. I was the same type of player, making runs ­behind, dangerous in the box and holding the ball up.

“He has made a real difference to United. He has scored goals from the off and has the right boss, in Jose ­Mourinho, to guide him. There will be ­difficult phases to come. But Mourinho has been there and done it and will know how to guide him through any rough patches.”

Van Nistelrooy, who ­recently ­returned to United to play in a ­charity game for the Reds’ legends side, still ­follows his old club ­avidly.

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The former ­Holland star is currently ­working with ­youngsters at his first club, PSV Eindhoven, and added: “It was great to see United win trophies last season.

“This time around, with the squad they have, I think they are capable of ­competing in both the Premier League and the ­Champions League.

“They ­definitely have the squad. It’s also important that they have width and quality in the side. They look rock-solid, have creativity and goals up front. And soon they will also have Zlatan ­Ibrahimovic back. It will be great to have his ­quality and ­experience.”

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Lukaku, though, is the United man in the ­spotlight with his ­electrifying start to life in a Reds shirt.

Last season at ­Everton, he hit 26 goals in 39 games, and Van Nistelrooy added: “There is no ­reason why he can’t score even more for United. He is a player more than capable of breaking records, ­including mine.”

The Dutchman, 41, also has high hopes for teenager Marcus Rashford, who has made huge strides since Van ­Nistelrooy first clapped eyes on him.

He said: “I first saw ­Rashford in a UEFA Youth League game against PSV two years ago and he was a talent even then. But it’s ­amazing how he has ­developed. I didn’t really ­imagine then that he would have broken into the first team around six months later.

“That says ­something about his ability to learn. That’s a good ­characteristic to have.”

It also helps having top players as a support crew – something Van Nistelrooy had at United.

He said: “I played with some great ­players – Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Roy Keane and David Beckham. With all those players behind me, I just had to make a run and the ball was there.”